"Historical Evidence" Article Items

Historicity of Biblical People – Judah Kings Part One

Sargon II

Posted on July 3, 2023 by

Categories: Biblical History

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The historicity of Biblical people has been confirmed by archaeological research over the past few decades.  These people are listed in the Biblical Archaeology Society online archives and provide some confirmation of Biblical historicity in general. Some confirmed biblical people through multiple archaeological findings, while others are part of a larger historical narrative (such as Egyptian pharaohs and secular historical knowledge). Hebrew Kings King David Many liberal historians have doubted the existence of the Hebrew kings, preferring to reference them as mythological.  The general explanation suggests that after the Israelis were held captive in Babylon for many years, some returned… Read More »

Literary Evidence About Jesus

The moral arguments asserts there is objective morality;; everything is not subjective.

Posted on February 19, 2023 by

Categories: Biblical History, Historical Evidence

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There is considerable literary evidence about Jesus than any other person or historical event.  There are written materials about the life of Christ, but they are supportive and antagonistic.  This literary evidence can be roughly broken down into three categories: Christians who liked Jesus Non-Christians who liked Jesus Non-Christians who disliked Jesus The modern critics of Christ and his message largely evaluate those non-Christians of the first few centuries after Christ while ignoring the evidence of those supporting his mission.  We will try to critically present the evidence in all three categories to determine their factual nature. Christians Who Liked… Read More »

Apostle Peter and First New Testament

Bible with Hands

Posted on January 28, 2023 by

Categories: Biblical History, Biblical Names, Historical Evidence

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The students of the Apostle Peter confirmed the accuracy of the first New Testament, similar to those of Paul and John. Peter may be the oldest of the original disciples of Christ.  He is also known as Simon Cephas from the Aramaic version of his name.  Peter and his brother Andrew were fishermen and were about their vocation when they first met Jesus.  Peter was a fisherman and likely illiterate with little, if any, formal education and likely illiterate. Mark became very close to Peter, so much so that Peter called him “my son.” (1 Peter 12:12-16).  The early church… Read More »

Apostle Paul and First New Testament

Homeschooling achievement tests tend to be higher than those from public schools.

Posted on January 20, 2023 by

Categories: Biblical History, Biblical Names, Historical Evidence

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The Apostle Paul had many students as he spread the Christian message worldwide.  Many of these students are lost to history, but some names are preserved in his writings.  These students and their spiritual descendants become important links in the chain of custody of New Testament writings. In an earlier post, we discussed how the students of the Apostle John carried the Christian message from John to the first written New Testament in 350 AD.  Each student carried the gospel message from their predecessor and then passed it to their students. A similar situation occurred with the Apostle Paul’s students… Read More »

Apostle John and First New Testament

Ancient preserve fragments from Irenaeus writings.

Posted on January 15, 2023 by

Categories: Biblical History, Biblical Names, Historical Evidence

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The Apostle John is the only apostle who is thought to have escaped martyrdom and provided a link to the first New Testament.  He was the apostle that “Jesus loved,” who was likely the youngest apostle and lived the longest – probably until about 100 AD.  He was the son of Zebedee and Salome and James’s brother (who was probably killed by beheading by Herod Agrippa 1 early in church history in 44 AD).  Some traditions hold that Salome was the sister of Jesus’ mother, Mary.  That would make Salome Jesus’ aunt, and the sons of Zebedee would be Jesus’ first… Read More »

Secular Eyewitnesses to Christ

Jerusalem

Posted on December 26, 2022 by

Categories: Archaeology, Biblical History, Biblical Names, Historical Evidence

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I have discussed several ancient secular eyewitnesses to Christ in another post evaluating the historicity of Scripture from a broad perspective.  In this article, I am going to concentrate on the evidence substantiating the historicity of Christ. The historicity of Christ is, after all the most important question that must be answered regarding all of Scripture. As Paul said, if the Resurrection of Christ did not happen, then Christians are deluded and, above all, to be pitied.  If Christ did not exist, then neither did the Resurrection. I will only evaluate secular, extra-Biblical sources for the historicity of Christ to avoid… Read More »

Ancient City of Ziklag Discovered

The City of Ziklag was found at an ancient archaeological site in Israel.

Posted on August 26, 2021 by

Categories: Archaeology, Biblical History, Biblical Names, Historical Evidence

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The Biblical ancient city of Ziklag has been discovered in Israel.  The Times of Israel reports that the site was accidentally found by archaeologist Saar Ganor surveying the Elah Valley in 2007.  This valley is most popular as the site of the confrontation between King David and Golia. The boy shepherd defeated the mighty Philistine warrior with a slingshot stone knocking him unconscious. David would become king of Israel only after spending thirteen years on the run from King Saul.  Saul was jealous of David’s abilities and likely viewed him as a rival to his throne.  Saul relentlessly hunted David down… Read More »

Paul’s Conversion Date

The conversion of Paul occurred in 34 AD shortly after the Crucifixion.

Posted on August 23, 2021 by

Categories: Biblical History, Biblical Names, Historical Evidence

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Paul’s conversion date has been a topic of intense academic study for many decades. As a result, a historical narrative has been painstakingly assembled to include many important historical events relevant to ancient Christianity.  These include Herod’s death date, Christ’s birth date, John the Baptist’s ministry, Christ’s Crucifixion date, and Paul’s conversion date and death date. Remarkably, these dates can be determined with some reliability and interrelate with each other in a smooth historical narrative. Of course, the dates are certainly still a manner of considerable controversy and some speculation, and certainly, there is no consensus of agreement among historians… Read More »

Dead Sea Scrolls

The historicity of Christ is supported by secular writers.

Posted on August 21, 2021 by

Categories: Archaeology, Biblical History, Biblical Names, Historical Evidence

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The Dead Sea Scrolls represent one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the last century.  The noted American archaeologist William F. Albright called it “the greatest manuscript discovery of all times.” But, on the other hand, the French scholar Dupont-Sommer felt, It is not a single revolution in the study of biblical exegesis … [it is] a whole cascade of revolutions.” The Dead Sea Scrolls have also produced no end of controversy.  For example, William LaSor noted, In the August, 1966 issue of Harper’s Magazine, Allegro spun a story of falsification, distortions, and innuendoes, the total effect of which was… Read More »

Ancient Earthquake

Posted on August 15, 2021 by

Categories: Archaeology, Biblical History, Historical Evidence

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There have been many ancient earthquakes described in the Scriptures.  Probably the most well-known is the one that occurred during the crucifixion of Christ.  However, another earthquake described in Scripture is less well-known but strong enough to have altered history.  This earthquake disrupted history during the eighth century BC and is mentioned in the Biblical Texts of Amos and Zechariah and with colorful detail by Josephus. The Israel Antiquities Authority and the Ir David Foundation found evidence of this earthquake when they evaluated the ruins of the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan.  (Silwan (also known as Siloam) is mentioned in… Read More »